"We would suggest that if the individual would like to contact our office and make a complaint, that individual could do so." The bank declined comment.

The Globe and Mail
March 9, 2006

Watchdog to review new CIBC fax fiasco
Paul Waldie

The federal Privacy Commissioner is looking into a faxing incident involving Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce and one of its clients.

The case began last October when CIBC was told by Christine Soda that she had been receiving faxes at her home in Mississauga that were supposed to be going to Gerry McSorley, who runs a sports equipment business in the same Toronto-area suburb.

Mr. McSorley is a CIBC customer and he had changed his business address, phone and fax number several months earlier. For some reason, the bank didn't get the new fax number and the old one was assigned by the telephone company to Ms. Soda.

The faxes were confirmations of money transfers Mr. McSorley had made to suppliers. Mr. McSorley said he was unaware the faxes had gone astray because he tracks the transfers on-line and didn't know the bank had instituted a new policy of faxing confirmations.

When the bank discovered the error, it changed the number and asked for the documents back.

Ms. Soda initially refused because the material has been caught up in a lawsuit involving her husband. The bank has now gone to court.

"It's weird," Mr. McSorley said. He added that he has no complaints about CIBC's conduct, he just wants the faxes.

Anne-Marie Hayden, a spokeswoman for the federal Privacy Commissioner, said the matter is under review but the office hasn't received a complaint.

"We would suggest that if the individual would like to contact our office and make a complaint, that individual could do so." The bank declined comment.